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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. march — music
  4. board — a committee
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. march — the month
  7. rock — music
  8. chip — for betting
  9. last — final
  10. last — to go on
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. saw — the tool
  17. board — to get on
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. last — finally
  20. saw — the tool
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. march — the month
  23. rock — a stone
  24. chip — to eat

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com